Marvel, Enough Nostalgia: Let’s See New X-Men, Not Old Faces!

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In the grand reveal for the upcoming film titled “Avengers: Doomsday,” several familiar faces from the Marvel Cinematic Universe were confirmed to reprise their roles in this epic multiverse journey. Notably, the cast of “Thunderbolts” was included, with Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America and Letitia Wright as Shuri/Black Panther among them. A surprising addition, however, was the return of numerous actors from the 20th Century Fox X-Men films, such as Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, Kelsey Grammer, and James Marsden. It’s likely that more cast members from this franchise will also be making a comeback.

This method of incorporating appearances by well-known actors from previous superhero films, as seen in recent MCU productions like “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Deadpool & Wolverine,” is being mirrored in these casting choices. Given that “Doomsday” is a large multiverse story, the merging of the X-Men universe with the MCU isn’t entirely unexpected. Yet, it’s disheartening to consider this as a potential future direction for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel Studios, please give the X-Men cast members a break.

Remember When the MCU Launched New Superheroes?

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A clear indication that a movie franchise is thriving might be the news of veteran actors, aged 50 and above, reprising their roles from earlier films in another blockbuster hit like X-Men: Days of Future Past. However, if we’re being honest, these recent casting announcements for the X-Men series are disheartening on several levels. One major concern is that they underscore Marvel’s growing tendency to lean on nostalgia. It was once common for Marvel Studios to trust audiences would embrace lesser-known characters such as Iron Man, the Guardians of the Galaxy, or Black Panther.

With the Disney/Fox merger, Kevin Feige and his team can draw on people’s nostalgia for older films in their productions. What was enjoyable in Spider-Man: No Way Home is now becoming overly repetitive in subsequent Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies. Even supposedly grounded offerings from Marvel Studios like Captain America: Brave New World seem excessively preoccupied with the mythos of 2000s superhero films and setting up mutants. Multiverse stories, on the other hand, have turned into a procession of familiar characters from non-Marvel Studios properties. These narratives no longer offer the innovative, captivating storytelling found in multiverse movies like Everything Everywhere All at Once. Instead, they serve as reminders of Disney’s widespread corporate control.

It’s no surprise that Marvel Studios is bringing back actors from the X-Men series for their upcoming film “Doomsday”, given the frequent cameos of characters from various universes in movies these days. For instance, Patrick Stewart reprised his role as Professor Xavier in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”, and Kelsey Grammer played Hank McCoy/Beast in “The Marvels”. While Alan Cumming hasn’t portrayed Nightcrawler in live-action before, it’s not unexpected to see the Fox X-Men appearing in an MCU production. The idea of multiple universes colliding has become commonplace, diluting the impact that such events should have in a grand story like “Avengers”. This is a consequence of drawing too frequently from the fan-service well.

What About a New Version of the X-Men?

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One exciting possibility when the X-Men joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) was the chance to witness updated, revitalized versions of these characters. Given that the Fox X-Men series had been running for 20 years (from X-Men to The New Mutants), it seemed this version of the characters had run its course. It was high time for a creative refresh. Just as Spider-Man: Homecoming began anew with a fresh cast to breathe life into a well-known comic book movie storyline, a new MCU X-Men reboot could have breathed new life into these mutant heroes. The imagination soars at the visuals and casting that directors like Alice Wu or Kelly Fremon Craig might have produced if given the opportunity to fully reimagine the X-Men.

It appears that Marvel’s decision to use veteran X-Men actors in Avengers: Doomsday highlights their reluctance to let go of their past. It seems as though these iconic X-Men characters are being held back from being passed on to a new generation of artists and viewers. Instead, contemporary performers are denied the opportunity to put their unique spin on these characters, similar to how actors have shaped Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man. Instead of offering a fresh start, Marvel seems more focused on stirring nostalgia. Avengers: Doomsday underscores that the inclusion of Deadpool and Wolverine was not just a one-time exception. It’s clear that Marvel Studios remains deeply committed to the X-Men films produced by Fox.

It’s exciting to think about enjoying Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, even though it will be as a computer-generated character instead of his iconic X2 makeup, possibly armed with swords in a true-to-comics outfit on the big screen. But repeatedly incorporating Fox’s X-Men characters for crowd-pleasing cameos in the 2020s diminishes the thrill of seeing these heroes in a Doomsday scenario. Moreover, bringing back numerous mutants for this team-up film suggests that the MCU is reluctant to move on from its past. Marvel could benefit from focusing less on this period of superhero films and more on shaping the future instead.

Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on May 1, 2026.

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2025-03-28 02:41